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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Strong standardURN 144083

Ark Castledown Primary Academy

Academy sponsor led · Hastings · TN34 3QT

Ages 2–11 · 403 pupils · East Sussex

School website

Ofsted

Strong standard

KS2 expected (RWM)

75%

Overall absence

6.7%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Strong standard

Inspection date

2025-11-11

  • AchievementStrong standard
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
  • InclusionExceptional
  • Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)75%
Higher standard (RWM)7%
Avg scaled score — reading
106.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
102.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.0%
Unauthorised2.2%
Authorised absence
4.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.1%
Enrolments in measure
352

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

52

Places offered

54

1st-preference offers

52

Total preferences (any rank)
88
Preferred offers (top 3)
53
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill84%

403 pupils · 480 places

Pupils on roll
403
Boys / girls
217 / 186
School capacity
480
Capacity fill
403 / 480 (84%)
Free school meals
51.9%
FSM pupils
209
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 2–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: ARK SCHOOLS
Academy trust
ARK SCHOOLS
Sponsor
ARK Schools
Headteacher
Miss Rebecca Stewart

Location

Address
Priory Road
Postcode
TN34 3QT
Town
Hastings
County
East Sussex
Local authority
East Sussex
District
Hastings
Constituency
Hastings and Rye
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (primary), Ages 2–11, in Hastings, East Sussex, 403 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 51.9%.

Open schools in Hastings
15
Primary schools in Hastings
11
Academies among open schools in Hastings
73% (11)
Open schools in TN34
7
Primary in TN34
4
Open schools in East Sussex LA
220
Primary in East Sussex LA
144

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in HastingsNear TN34

  • Mulberry Baird Primary

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Hastings · TN34 3TH · East Sussex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS247%
    • Absence9.1%
    • FSM53.8%
    • Demand0.97

    0.4 miles away

  • Dudley Infant Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Hastings · TN35 5NJ · East Sussex

    Ages 5–7

    • Absence6.4%
    • FSM25.4%
    • Demand1.00

    0.4 miles away

  • All Saints CofE Junior Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Hastings · TN35 5JU · East Sussex

    Ages 7–11

    • KS281%
    • Absence6.0%
    • FSM38.7%

    0.6 miles away

  • Ark Blacklands Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Hastings · TN34 2HU · East Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS286%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM20.7%
    • Demand0.93

    0.8 miles away

  • Sandown Primary School and Nursery

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Hastings · TN34 2AA · East Sussex

    Ages 2–11

    • KS264%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM41.2%
    • Demand1.05

    1.1 miles away

  • St Paul's Church of England Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy converter · Primary

    St Leonards-on-Sea · TN37 6RT · East Sussex

    Ages 2–11

    • KS265%
    • Absence6.4%
    • FSM35.0%
    • Demand0.99

    1.2 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Miss Rebecca Stewart
Telephone
01424444046
Website
http://www.arkcastledown.org

Official links